TY  - JOUR
A1  - Mischke, Steffen
A1  - Almogi-Labin, Ahuva
A1  - Al-Saqarat, Bety
A1  - Rosenfeld, Arik
A1  - Elyashiv, Hadar
A1  - Boomer, Ian
A1  - Stein, Mordechai
A1  - Lev, Lilach
A1  - Ito, Emi
T1  - An expanded ostracod-based conductivity transfer function for climate reconstruction in the Levant
T2  - Quaternary science reviews : the international multidisciplinary research and review journal
N2  - We present the first modern calibration dataset linking ostracod assemblage composition to water chemistry, and other site-specific variables, in the hydrologically and geopolitically sensitive southern Levant region. A total of 42 ostracod taxa were recorded from the 178 sampled sites in Israel and Jordan. Ilyocypris spp., Heterocypris salina and Cypridopsis vidua are the most abundant taxa. Species strictly confined to freshwater conditions are Prionocypris zenkeri, Gomphocythere ortali and Prionocypris olivaceus. In contrast, H. sauna, Bradleytriebella lineata and Cyprideis torosa show high frequencies in brackish waters (waters with higher conductivity). Humphcypris subterranea, G. ortali, P. olivaceus and Cypridopsis elongata apparently prefer flowing waters. Specific conductivity optima and tolerance ranges were calculated for the recorded ostracod species and may be used for the palaeoenvironmental assessment of fossil ostracod assemblages. In addition, a transfer-function for quantitative specific conductivity estimation based on 141 samples was established with weighted averaging partial least squares regression (WA-PLS). The resulting coefficient of determination r(2) between observed and predicted conductivity values (0.72) and the root-mean-square error of prediction (RMSEP) in % gradient length (13.1) indicate that conductivity may be reliably estimated from ostracod assemblage data. The transfer function was first applied to last glacial ostracod assemblage data from an archaeological trench in the Sea of Galilee (northern Israel). Relatively large conductivity fluctuations between ca 1 and 7 mS cm(-1) were inferred for the period 24-20 cal ka BP. In addition, four episodes of freshwater influx near the site of the trench were identified from the presence of shells of freshwater and stream-dwelling species intermingled with very abundant shells of Cyprideis torosa. The results of our study allow a better use of Quaternary ostracods from the Levant as palaeoenvironmental indicators of water-body types and past conductivity levels and will contribute to a better understanding of Quaternary environmental and climate change in the Levant. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
KW  - Ostracoda
KW  - Transfer function
KW  - Conductivity
KW  - Salinity
KW  - Near East
KW  - Sea of Galilee
KW  - Ohalo Site
Y1  - 2014
UR  - https://publishup.uni-potsdam.de/frontdoor/index/index/docId/37809
SN  - 0277-3791
VL  - 93
SP  - 91
EP  - 105
PB  - Elsevier
CY  - Oxford
ER  -